Custom Roof Rack

[Will_Smith]

G'day

Just wanted to ask if anyone has ever made there own custom roof rack that mounts to the spot welded points in the roof track on the NP Pajero. If so could you please post some pics of it, in perticular the foot of the mount (where it attaches to the roof).

Also these points in the roof tracks - are they ok to use, some say to weak to go off road some say they can take 110 Kgs. Just would like to get this clarified.

Thanks for your replies

Will

[mrbitchi]

They have a reputation of being a little suspect when travelling on corrugations. They can carry about 100kg but it might not stay up there.

[speewa158]

will smith
if the book said 100kg then weigh the mounts , rack system deducting that from useable weight .
if 100kg is tolal weight on roof then this is to include the fixings .

[Pete]

Originally Posted by mrbitchi

They have a reputation of being a little suspect when travelling on corrugations. They can carry about 100kg but it might not stay up there.

A few people have said that...if they break does it break the rola rack and not your roof, so you could still get home, or take a spare bracket and THEN install a Rhino track? Also, if just keeping the basket and the rolas; is it better to keep the black plastic rolas or go the square alloy ones and can you hang the awning off the side of the baskets/rola systems?

I guess i am tryin to only buy absolutely essential mods, to keep the costs down

[00pajero]

we have a set of thule racks to suit any vehicle with out gutters on our nm and made my own roof cage , it weighs about 30 kg's on it's own and on a recent trip to teewah beach we probably had a total weight of 150 kg's on the roof and it didn't affect the handling of the car that much but totally screwed the fuel economy

[green monster]

im replacing my sport racks with something stronger, was sad to see that the rubber pads that sit on the roof have worn the paint down to primer in some spots !!
I would not recomend these racks to anyone unless they are only very infrequently used,
Im in the middle of using rhino base mounts and welding up a 2200mm x 1200 alloy rack for the thule pod swags and sleeping bags, not too much weight so im risking using the factory mounts,
roof rack options can soon become very expensive !! so $110 plus the alloy isnt looking too bad ATM ,

cam

[dean]

Are the NP mounts the same as the NM. If so they are rated 40kg off road and 60 kg on road. This is not too say you cant carry more, but I suppose that's why so many had breakages early on. The other thing is do'nt do them up to tight, this can weaken things. Not the best system ever but if used correctly they should be fine.
Dean

[sharkcaver]

For me, $600 or so is cheap insurance for a track mount if I'm outback and have a load up top fail. Just another way of looking at it. (mines yet to be done)

Shane.

[rebelone607]

Originally Posted by sharkcaver

For me, $600 or so is cheap insurance for a track mount if I'm outback and have a load up top fail. Just another way of looking at it. (mines yet to be done)

Shane.

Once again Shane you have hit the nail squarely on the head. It is the same old story, try to do it on the cheep (only chickens go cheep) and you get away with it for a while and then you have to turn around and spend the money all over again to do it right. I was lucky when I bought my vehicle as the previous owner had ditched the original mounts and had the Rhino track fitted, just as well as I carry a 3.7 mtr tinny with ply floor up top,probably weighs about 90kg so need the extra strength. Have installed three of the square aluminium bars to carry the weight and these are positined immediately above the strongest points, this being the door pillars and back corners.
Merv

[green monster]

Just dropped my alloy off at the pipe benders , should be cutting it up next week for the welder to do his work ,, will post pics as i progress,